About Me

I design technology that meets people where they are—in their complexity, not our assumptions. My path into HCI began with a simple question: why do digital tools so often fail the people who need them most? A decade of research taught me the answer isn't about features or flows—it's about whose experiences we center when we build.

At Natera, I lead UX for lab operations and enterprise tools, building a centralized research function that demonstrates measurable ROI. I balance strategic vision with tactical execution, moving from foundational research to shipped products. Beyond biotech, I advance women's health technology as a Dealflow Fellow at AthenaDAO, shaping research priorities and funding strategy that actually moves the field forward. Through my Substack "Women's Health, Computed," I translate academic research into accessible analysis—from evaluating perimenopause wearables to mapping the femtech landscape—because understanding shouldn't require a PhD.

My approach is rapid and rigorous. I don't wait for perfect data when directional insight can shape better decisions today. I blend qualitative depth with quantitative validation, thriving in ambiguity where 0-to-1 problems demand both systems thinking and attention to the details that define experience.

Guiding Principles

  • Human-centered: Start with lived experience, not technical constraints

  • Evidence-driven: Qualitative insight meets quantitative validation

  • Bias toward action: Research that doesn't ship is just documentation

  • Rigorous iteration: Test assumptions early, adapt fast

  • Strategic clarity: Connect granular decisions to broader impact

Feel free to get in touch at sainz.nag@gmail.com or find me on LinkedIn.

 

Experience

Senior UX Research Manager, Natera —

San Francisco, CA

2025 – Present

 

Senior UX Researcher, Natera —

San Francisco, CA

2021 – 2025

 

Part-time Lecturer,

University of Cincinnati —

Cincinnati, OH

2023

 

UX Researcher, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Research Center —

Cincinnati, OH

2019 – 2021

 

  • Established the research practice for genomic lab software, introducing mixed-methods frameworks that combined ethnography, workflow shadowing, surveys, and quantitative validation.

  • Partnered with product and science teams to translate user insights into actionable product requirements that shaped roadmap priorities.

  • Led studies that informed the design of new lab tools, resulting in 15% faster turnaround time (TAT) and 50% improvement in staff efficiency.

  • Mentored a team of researchers and designers.

 

Led 0-to-1 discovery research that informed the design and launch of Natera’s first patient portal, from initial need-finding to product adoption.

  • Conducted in-depth interviews, workflow analysis, and survey validation, synthesizing insights into strategic share-outs that shaped the product vision.

  • Drove research initiatives that reduced patient support call volume by 30%, directly improving efficiency and patient experience.

  • Delivered executive-level insights that influenced roadmap prioritization and investment decisions across patient engagement products.

 

  • Taught HCI I, integrating research methods into student projects.

  • Supervised mixed-methods coursework emphasizing evaluation, prototyping, and user testing.

 

  • Led UX research across multiple NIH- and PCORI-funded projects, including Cystic Fibrosis Association (CF), Rare Disease Research Network (RDRN), and Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute initiatives.

  • Designed and executed mixed-methods studies that informed the development of digital tools supporting scientific discovery, clinical workflows, and patient engagement.

 
 
 

Education

2020 - 2025

 
 

PhD in Human-Computer Interaction

University of Cincinnati — Cincinnati, OH

Dissertation: HCI for Women’s Health: Digital Interventions for Navigating Menopause.